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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

UK summer holidays start far too late

170 replies

Stuckforthefourthtime · 01/07/2019 14:22

We're already into summer, the weather is lovely and it's weeks until the school holidays start.

July is consistently the warmest month in the UK, yet the kids (and teachers) spend it on school and parents commuting and at work. www.statista.com/statistics/322658/monthly-average-daily-temperatures-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/. The rest of Europe is on holiday already.

Aibu to think they should start earlier?

OP posts:
MooseBeTimeForSummer · 01/07/2019 14:46

I’m in Canada. My son’s school broke up on Thursday. He’s not back until September 3rd.

He gets two weeks off over Christmas, a week in February for teacher convention and a week at Easter.

However they also have practically every other Friday off during term time. The staff are in but the children aren’t.

Sakura7 · 01/07/2019 14:47

In Ireland primary school finishes around the end of June and secondary school finishes at the end of May (though students doing exams in third year and sixth year sit them in early to mid June).

As a teen I always felt sorry for my English cousins with their 6 weeks off, when most years I had double that.

WhatchaMaCalllit · 01/07/2019 14:48

In Ireland secondary schools finish at the end of May to allow state exams take place during June. Only children who are in 3rd year (Junior Cert) or 6th Year (Leaving Cert) do these state exams. All other secondary school kids are done with school at the end of May.

Primary school children carry on until the end of June for their schooling, which can make it awkward if you have a child in primary and one in secondary, when you go away for a summer holiday.

I always hated it when I was in school (and still do now as a parent) when you see the "Back to School" stuff in shops and the kids have only finished up the week before. I mean it's getting to be like selling stuff for Christmas in September when Christmas is in December!

I'll get off my soapbox now Grin Grin

isthatapugunicorn · 01/07/2019 14:51

I’m glad NI get June July & Aug - weather wise the rest of the year can be a rubbish time to have extended breaks! Makes the most of the better weather...

notso · 01/07/2019 14:52

I think the whole school holidays situation needs rethinking tbh

DC90 · 01/07/2019 14:53

Hate to burst your bubble OP but the majority of the UK's holidays start in June it's just England that doesnt and like pp have said it suits us fine as our trips to Alton towers and Blackpool in early july are fabulously quite!

escapade1234 · 01/07/2019 14:54

Mine are at an independent school in England and we finish this week. I hate the 9 week holidays because it’s just too long away from the comforting rhythms and routines of school - for all of us. I love having the children at home, don’t get me wrong, but they really miss school and their friends and teachers. It’s so long to be off!

weemouse · 01/07/2019 14:54

The rest of Europe is on holiday already.

Errm no it isn't. France primary school only starts its holidays from this Friday coming.

sandragreen · 01/07/2019 14:54

I thought the long holiday was designed to fit in with the agricultural requirement for children to work in the fields for six weeks, hence the timing.

Aren't all your DC toiling in local farms all summer long? Grin

BarbarianMum · 01/07/2019 14:56

Well firstly you are wrong about the rest of Europe being on holiday already and secondly, even if it were true, how would it be good for us to all be off at the same time and all competing for the same accommodation/flights etc?

NCforthis2019 · 01/07/2019 14:56

I am on England Confused child is on holiday as of monday.

tomatostottie · 01/07/2019 14:56

The rest of Europe is not on holiday.
In Germany a lot of the kids don't have holidays until the beginning of August - eg. Bavaria. In Austria the children are at achool in some parts until this Friday and in other parts until next Friday.
The Norwegians are all on holiday - I'll give you that.

wildbhoysmama · 01/07/2019 14:57

You've had quite the telling off for substituting England with UK. Quite rightly so. I'm loving my Monday off with the DC ( one abroad with Scouts, one out mountain biking with friends and me pottering in the sunny garden with the wee guy).

Enjoy your England- centric work day.

escapade1234 · 01/07/2019 14:57

Btw, for those nitpicking the OP, I think you’ll find over 90% of the UK population lives in England and Wales. Ergo about 90% of UK children are most definitely still in school.

notso · 01/07/2019 14:58

it suits us fine as our trips to Alton towers and Blackpool in early july are fabulously quite!
Really? I've always found them chock full of school trips this time of year.

AtseneGatnalp · 01/07/2019 14:58

I have one (boarding school) who broke up last week, and two who break up this week. So I could do with the school holidays starting several weeks later, in fact. They all go back mid September. All at English independent schools, so there isn't even any money to take advantage of cheaper holidays (no money left for holidays of any description, anywhere).

Original poster
Stuckforthefourthtime · 01/07/2019 14:59

Totally didn't realise that the rest of the UK doesn't holiday at the same time! I'm not English myself, so wasn't assuming that London is the centre of the universe, just didn't know it would be so different - but think it totally shows that earlier can work well Smile

OP posts:
Cloudtree · 01/07/2019 14:59

Mine are in england and break up on wednesday of next week.

Crunchymum · 01/07/2019 15:00

If the holidays started earlier the 15 week winter term would be even longer - it's bad enough as it is!

Out of interest, how does it work in Scotland and NI? You go back in August, how long that first term?

VioletCharlotte · 01/07/2019 15:00

Yes I agree. I had this exact same conversation with someone yesterday actually. August often feels more like Autumn that Summer. It would be far better if they broke up at the end of June when the exams finish. That way they could make the most of the sunshine and long evenings.

prettybird · 01/07/2019 15:00

English private schools do start their holidays earlier - roundabout now. I used to have a boss who said that it meant you have a better class of English family who were on holiday in early July! Wink (His kids, although in Scotland, went to a private school).

I couldn't possibly comment.... Wink

BillieEilish · 01/07/2019 15:04

In Spain here, DD broke up on the 19th June. For 3 months. But we have no half terms.

DonkeyHohtay · 01/07/2019 15:06

I posted the answer to that up thread @Crunchymum - 2 days at the end of September, week in October plus another one teacher training day.

probstimeforanewname · 01/07/2019 15:09

Agreed OP, even if it annoys people in Scotland and NI! Sorry! Weather in August is generally rubbish (and the nights start drawing in), it would make more sense to be off mid June to the end of July. Failing that, make May half term two weeks (which is the case in some parts of Cheshire so it can be done around exams).

Germany isn't a unified whole, the Laender have different holidays which rotate, so they can be the same as ours, or more like the Scottish ones, or somewhere inbetween.

whiskeysourpuss · 01/07/2019 15:09

@Crunchymum our kids have 2 weeks off in October.

We only half 4 terms:

August-October (2 weeks October holiday)
October-December (2 weeks Christmas holiday)
January-March/April (2 weeks Easter holiday)
April-June (6/7 weeks summer holiday)

We don't have half terms either but do usually have a few in-service days in the middle of February which gives 3 days off.

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